Cantrell and Cochrane first became associated with the drinks industry in the 1850's. Over the course of the following century, augmented by mergers and acquisitions, the Group began to dominate the Irish market. The 1968 merger of Allied Breweries and Guinness Ireland's Irish soft drinks and cider interests laid the foundations for the C&C Group. In July 1998 Allied Domecq acquired full ownership of the Group and then in January 1999, with funds advised by BC Partners, their co-investors and C&C management, the Group was acquired from Allied Domecq in a leveraged buy-out.